I love having a monthly Guest Crit Master for the monthly PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train. This month, we have my agent-sister and critique group member Ana Siqueira…who has made a huge name for herself in picture books. Her feedback is always fantastic.
Ana will critique a picture book manuscript for the first passenger to write a new PB draft and add their name to the Google doc. Remember that you can plan ahead, but the draft must be written during this challenge. This train runs from October 16 – 18 Eastern.
In this challenge, everyone is a winner! You’ll have a shiny new draft (or two). Wahooooo! When you complete the challenge and hop on the Critique Train Google doc, you’ll receive a critique from the passenger above you and give one to the passenger below you. Many people have told me they’ve met trusted critique partners they continue to work with, which makes me SO happy!
Note: To allow more passengers to work with our Guest Crit Masters, you may be 1st once every 4 months. If you hop on 1st again during that time, I’ll just move you down one spot.
I’ll also try to vary the times the train starts, so those who are often sleeping at our typical midnight Eastern time will have a chance to hop on earlier.
Generous Giveaway!
Enter to win a 30 minute Ask Me Anything chat with Ana.
She’s a wealth of knowledge and can help with writing advice, inspiration, brainstorming…and her teaching background makes her a master at school visits.
You’ll find the giveaway at the bottom of this post. Huge thanks, Ana! 💖
Ana Siqueira is a Spanish teacher and award-winning children’s book author who turns fear into stories. When she’s scared, she writes tales bursting with brujas, astronautas, and supercapas. Her books include:
- Bella’s Recipe for Success (Beaming Books, 2021)
- If Your Babysitter is a Bruja (Simon & Schuster, 2022)
- Abuela’s Super Capa (HarperCollins, 2023)
- Our World Brazil (Barefoot Books, 2024)
- La Mala Suerte is Following You (Charlesbridge, 2024)
- Vera La Valiente is Scared (Beaming Books, 2025)
- Sticky Hermana (Charlesbridge, 2025)
- If Your Abuelo is an Astronauta (Simon & Schuster, 2026)
- Mami’s Heart (HarperCollins, 2026)
…and more on the way.
When she’s not writing, Ana takes her Spanish students on journeys through the Spanish-speaking world and her Brazilian-Cuban-American grandkids on countless aventuras.
Explore more books and adventures at anafiction.com, and visit her YouTube channel @AnaTeacherWriter for lesson plans and picture book guides.
If you’d like Ana to sign any of her books, order from Tombolo Books. In the comment section, add that you want it signed and any personalization you want. 🙂
BONUS GIVEAWAY!
Pre-Order – Sticky Hermana/Hermana Pegajosa
for a chance to win one of two PB critiques
from Ana Siqueira.
Share your pre-order receipt on this form by October 20 at noon Eastern time to be entered. Two winners will be randomly drawn to win a PB critique from Ana. Fingers and toes crossed for you!
Having a sister who wants to do everything together is a pain! But in the end, big and little sisters always find a way to make up.
A fun read-aloud picture book with some Spanish words that’s full of humor and heart and perfect for 3-7-year-olds with a younger or older sibling. A Junior Library Guild Selection!
Please thank Ana for her generosity!
We normally share some tips here, but Ana included so much amazing info, it’s like a mini workshop. Wahooooo! Here’s a link to Ana’s helpful and detailed post on Adding Tension and Emotions to Your Manuscript.
Tip: It’s a HUGE help to mark a book ‘want to read’ on Goodreads, then change it to ‘read’ plus rate/review a book there and other places if you love it! Checking it out or requesting it at your library gives books a boost, too. Shouting out books you love on social media is another great way of helping others discover your favorite gems.
SAVE THE DATE!
The next New Draft Challenge & Critique Train will be… November 20 – 22 Eastern!
*If you’re interested in being a Guest Crit Master, please send me an e-mail: [email protected]
Psssst…did you see that I offer PB Fairy Godmother Critiques?
I love giving detailed feedback on picture book manuscripts…and seeing them bloom in revisions. One of my favorite parts is reading the revision out loud during our Zoom, then brainstorming ways to make it even stronger. Of course, I end with good luck fairy dust. 🙂
I’m so impressed with the revisions, and can’t wait for these amazing books to be out in the world one day. E-mail me for more info: [email protected].
Enter to win a 30 minute Ask Me Anything chat with Ana.
The lucky winner will be announced here on Monday, October 20. Good luck! And thank you again for always being so generous with the kidlit community, Ana. 💖
3 Comments
Leave your reply.